Multiple Position Boat Seat

ABSTRACT

A multiple position convertible seat assembly for a boat includes three seat frames pivotally coupled to the boat and to each other to move from a first position as a seat, a second position as a lounge seat with leg support, and a third position forming another seat. In the third position, the seat includes a foldout cushion exposing a work surface.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/291,826 entitled MULTIPLE POSITION BOAT SEAT, filed on Feb. 5, 2016, by Linwood Addison Fuller IV, et al., the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a seat for a pleasure boat which can be pivotally converted from a conventional seat to a lounge seat. It can also be moved to additional positions for providing a second seat and a working area associated with an entertainment center of a boat.

Seating designs for boats are particularly challenging for designers inasmuch as typically at least for relatively small boats, limited space is available for seating. Also, the seating must be fixed to the vessel such that, during movement of the boat, in some cases in turbulent sea conditions, the seating remains in a stable position. In the past, this challenge has been met in numerous ways, including, for example, a fold-out seat as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 8,113,137, which is employed to provide either a bolster for the boat's cockpit area or a fold-down comfortable seat. With the advent of increasing creature comforts on boats in the 30 to 35 foot range, consumers are demanding and expecting new features, such as gas grills, entertainment centers and the like. Although some small boats have had seats which can fold out to form a flat sun pad, this invention relates to a seat which has multiple positions including a conventional seat, a lounge seat and an extended position in which the seat back can be extended to provide an additional seating surface and provide a work surface in association with an entertainment center.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A multiple position convertible seat assembly for a boat includes a first seat frame having a pivot coupling at one end for pivotally coupling the frame to a support member of a boat. The first frame includes upholstery positioned on a first side and on an opposite side of the first frame. The first seat frame includes side legs extending at an angle away from the frame. The seat assembly further includes a second seat frame underlying the first seat frame and having a link arm pivotally coupling the second seat frame near one end to the first seat frame at a location spaced from the pivot coupling of the first seat frame to the boat. The second seat frame includes upholstery positioned on the side facing the first seat frame. The assembly further includes a backrest frame having one edge pivotally coupled to the second seat frame along an edge opposite the link arm. The backrest frame includes an opposite edge pivotally coupled to the boat and including upholstery facing the first and second seat frames.

When in a first position, the first seat frame and backrest form a normal seat. The first seat frame can be rotated to an inverted position about the pivot coupling to a second position where the legs of the first seat frame rest on the deck of the boat and the first seat frame forms the leg support of a lounge seat.

The pivot coupling of the second seat frame to the first seat frame and to the backrest frame allows the second seat frame and backrest frame to be pivoted upwardly to a third position in which the second seat frame now defines a backrest, and the backrest frame provides a generally horizontal work surface behind the newly formed seat. The upholstery provided on the backrest frame is pivotally secured to the backrest frame to be pivoted orthogonally to connection of the backrest frame to the second seat frame to expose a work surface underlying the upholstery.

With such a multi-position seat, therefore, the user has the option of a normal seat, a lounge seat, or, in yet a third position, again a normal seat with a secondary surface providing a work surface behind the seat. Such a seating system can be positioned as an aft-facing seat, such that the backrest frame can, when in the third position, provide a working surface for an entertainment area of the boat and still allow seating adjacent the same area.

These and other features, objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following description thereof together with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of the cockpit area of a boat, showing the seat of the present invention in a first seating position;

FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the seat components taken along section line II-II in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of the boat showing the seat moved to a lounge seat configuration;

FIG. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the components of the seat shown in the position of FIG. 3 taken along section line IV-IV of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of the boat showing the seat being moved from the lounge position of FIGS. 3 and 4 toward a third position;

FIG. 6 is a vertical cross-sectional view, partly in phantom form, illustrating the hinged movement of the seat components as illustrated in FIG. 5 and taken along the same section line as FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the seat shown in the third position taken along the same section line as in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view of the boat showing the seat moved to the third position;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the seat shown in the third position with the upholstered backrest moved to a position exposing a work surface; and

FIG. 10 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the seat with the upholstered backrest pivoted to expose the work surface and taken along the same section line as FIG. 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring initially to FIG. 1, there is shown a fragmentary perspective view of a boat 10, such as a 29-foot Dual Console Pursuit® Model DC295, which includes a cockpit area 12 having a deck 14, a bridge area 16 forward of the cockpit area 12, an integrated hardtop 18, and front and side windshields 17 and 19, respectively. Conventional bulkheads 11 and supports secure the hardtop 18 and front and side windows 17 and 19. Mounted in the area between the cockpit 12 and the bridge area 16 is the unique seat assembly 20 of the present invention. The seat assembly is pivotally mounted to a fixed integrated fiberglass housing 70, which is either integrally molded with the deck 14 of the boat or otherwise secured to the deck.

Before describing the details of the construction of the frames and moving sections of the seat assembly 20, a brief overview of the movement of the seat from a conventional seat, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, can be seen by the movement of the seat assembly to a lounging position, as seen in FIGS. 3 and 4. With further pivoting movement, as seen in FIGS. 5-8, it can be moved to a third position in which the original seat backrest B becomes a horizontal support surface and the lounge seating area D becomes a backrest. Finally, as illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10, the upholstery cushion B for the original backrest, as seen in FIG. 1, can be pivoted laterally upwardly to expose a work surface 36 for use by the operator of the boat when the seat assembly 20 is positioned across from or in close proximity to an entertainment center of the boat. This conveniently locates the work surface for use in preparing and serving refreshments. As seen in FIGS. 8 and 9, a significant storage area 13 is also at least temporarily available when the seat is in its third position. Thus, seat assembly 20 can be moved from a first position illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 where it serves as a rear-facing bench seat, an extended lounge seat as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, again in a rear-facing seat in its third position shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, and finally exposing a useable work surface and storage area as illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10.

The seat assembly 20 comprises three separate frame members, including a first seat frame 22 which, as best seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, includes a rectangular base with sides 26 and front and rear supports 28. The rear and outboard sides of the rectangular frame 22 are concealed by the upholstered seat A. The sides 26 each integrally include a first upwardly inclined section 27 (FIG. 2) spanning the backrest cushion B and an upwardly extending ends defining and serving as support legs 24 when the seat is in the lounge position shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. The seat frame 22 is pivotally mounted to the housing 70 by pivot axles 23 extending between frame members 26 and the housing on opposite sides of the seat frame. Seat frame 22 defines a generally rectangular frame supporting an upholstery section labeled A which, in a preferred embodiment, is a seat cushion secured to the rectangular frame in a conventional manner by marine fasteners. The frame 22 also includes an angled handle 25 extending between each side 26 of the seat frame 22 and the ends 24 to facilitate rotation of the seat frame 22 about pivot axles 23 to an inverted position (FIG. 3) exposing the cushion C mounted to frame 22 on the side opposite cushion A. The first seat frame rotates about 180° (i.e., from 170° to 190°) to the inverted position depending upon a given installation.

In addition to the seat frame 22, there is provided a backrest frame 30 (FIGS. 2 and 4) which is pivotally mounted to the upper edge 72 of housing 70 by a piano hinge 32 (FIGS. 2-4). The backrest frame 30 is pivotally mounted at its lower end to a secondary seat frame 40 by a second piano hinge 34, as best seen in FIG. 2. Seat frame 40 underlies frame 22 when in the position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Each of the frames 22, 30, and 40 are made of stainless steel and comprise generally rectangular frames, including side, front and rear tubular members welded in a conventional manner to withstand a marine environment, as are the hinges and other metallic parts of the seat assembly 20.

The secondary seat frame 40 supports an upholstered member such as a cushion D which, when the seat is in the lounge position as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, becomes the seating surface. Interconnecting links 50 are pivotally coupled at one end by pivot axles 52 to the forward end of sides 42 of frame 40 on opposite sides of the frame and are pivotally mounted by pivot axles 54 to the sides 26 of frame 22 at a position spaced from the pivot mountings 23 of the seat frame 22 to housing 70. This link allows the seat frame 22 to be pivoted and provide clearance for the secondary seat frame 40 and cushion D, as illustrated in FIG. 4. Thus, in the second position of the seat as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the reverse side of the seat frame 22 presents a cushion for the legs of the user while the secondary seat frame 40 presents an upholstered surface, such as a cushion D which now forms the seating area or seat. The seat back cushion B mounted to the rectangular backrest frame 30 remains the seat back for the seat assembly when in the lounge position shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. In this position, the upholstered seat back cushion B is inclined rearwardly to present a comfortable seating position. The seat back upholstered surface B is inclined at a slightly greater angle than shown in FIG. 2 as the pivot connection 34 has moved slightly forwardly due to the movement of link 50.

Pivot link 50 and the piano hinge pivot 34 between the secondary seat frame 40 and backrest frame 30 allow the secondary seat frame 40 and backrest frame 30 to be raised upwardly, as illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, to a third position as illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8, in which the secondary seat cushion D now becomes the backrest and cushion C the seat. The backrest frame 30, which is pivotally anchored to housing 70 by piano hinge 34 to the top 72 of housing 70, now assumes the generally horizontal position as seen in FIGS. 7 and 8. When in this position, an open storage area 13 is provided above the housing 70 and under backrest frame 30 and cushion B and one which can be employed by the user when the seat is in a position shown in FIGS. 7-10.

The backrest cushion B is mounted by hinges 33 and 35 to the outboard side leg 31 of the rectangular frame 30, as seen in FIG. 9, to allow it to hinge upwardly, as illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10. The cushion B can be rotated to a generally vertical position (i.e., from about 70° to 110°, and preferably 90°) to expose the work surface 36. Work surface 36 is attached to the frame 30, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, such that the backrest frame 30 provides an auxiliary table or work surface 36 for use by the boat operator. Another advantage of the seat design in providing the area 13 under the backrest frame 30 and work surface 36 to be available for temporary use when the seat is in the position seen in FIGS. 9 and 10. The hinges 33 and 35 are friction hinges which hold the cushion panel B, which includes a hard back surface 38, in a position shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, without the need for latches.

Hinges 32 and 34, together with the double pivoted link arm 50 and pivot connection 23 of the seat frame 22 to the housing 70 allows the multiple position movement of the seat sections with relative ease into the variety of positions including the first seating position (FIGS. 1-2), the lounge seating position (FIGS. 3-4), a second seating position (FIGS. 7-10), and the provision of additional storage and a work surface near the galley area of a vessel (FIGS. 9-10). The seat upholstery will typically be padded cushions mounted to a hard surface made of polymeric material typically used in marine cushions. In order to assist in moving the seat from the lounge position shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 to the third position shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, straps, such as straps 41 and 43 (FIG. 5) may be employed as handholds to raise and pivot the auxiliary seat frame 40 to the position shown in FIG. 3.

It will become apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications to the preferred embodiment of the invention as described herein can be made, including mounting the seat in different areas of a boat and facing different directions as space permits without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. 

1-17. (canceled)
 18. A convertible seat assembly for a boat, comprising: a first seat frame having a pivot axle at a first end for pivotally coupling the first seat frame to the boat, the first seat frame including at least one leg spaced from the pivot axle and extending away from the first seat frame; a second seat frame at least partially underlying the first seat frame and having a link arm pivotally coupling a first end of the second seat frame to the first seat frame at a location spaced from the pivot axle of the first seat frame; and a third seat frame pivotally mounted to a second end of the second seat frame, whereby the first seat frame can be rotated from an upright position to an inverted position about the pivot axle and the link arm rotates to a position between the first seat frame and the second seat frame with the at least one leg of the first seat frame resting on a deck of the boat to form a lounge seat.
 19. The convertible seat assembly of claim 18, wherein the at least one leg is disposed at an opposite end of the first seat frame from the pivot axle.
 20. The convertible seat assembly of claim 18, wherein the link arm includes a first end pivotally mounted to the first end of the second seat frame and a second end pivotally mounted to the first seat frame between the pivot axle and the at least one leg.
 21. The convertible seat assembly of claim 20, wherein the link arm includes a notch formed between the first end of the link arm and the second end of the link arm, the notch being configured to receive the pivot axle when the first seat frame is in the inverted position.
 22. The convertible seat assembly of claim 18, wherein the first seat frame includes a first cushion formed on a first side of the first seat frame and a second cushion formed on a second side of the first seat frame.
 23. The convertible seat assembly of claim 22, wherein the first cushion is exposed when the first seat frame is in the upright position and the second cushion is exposed when the first seat frame is in the inverted position.
 24. The convertible seat assembly of claim 18, wherein the third seat frame includes a first end and a second end formed at an opposite end from the first end, the first end of the third seat frame being pivotally mounted to the second end of the second seat frame and the second end of the third seat frame being pivotally mounted to the boat.
 25. A convertible seat assembly for a boat, comprising: a first seat frame including a first end pivotally mounted to the boat and a second end at an opposite end of the first seat frame from the first end, the second end having a leg extending therefrom; a second seat frame having a third end adjacent to the first end of the first seat frame and a fourth end at an opposite end of the second seat frame from the third end; a link arm having a fifth end pivotally mounted to the first seat frame intermediate the first end and the second end, and a sixth end pivotally mounted to the third end of the second seat frame; and a third seat frame having a seventh end pivotally mounted to the fourth end of the second seat frame and an eighth end pivotally mounted to the boat.
 26. The convertible seat assembly of claim 25, wherein the convertible seat assembly is operable between a first position defining a first seating surface and a first backrest, a second position defining a leg support, a second seating surface, and a second backrest, and a third position defining a third seating surface, a third backrest, and a work surface.
 27. The convertible seat assembly of claim 26, wherein in the first position the first seat frame defines the first seating surface, the third seat frame defines the first backrest, in the second position the first seat frame defines the leg support, the second seat frame defines the second seating surface, and the third seat frame defines the second backrest, and in the third position the first seat frame defines the third seating surface, the second seat frame defines the third backrest, and the third seat frame defines the work surface.
 28. The convertible seat assembly of claim 26, wherein the leg extends at an oblique angle from the first seat frame, the leg extending away from a deck of the boat and being parallel to the third seat frame when the convertible seat assembly is in the first position, and contacting the deck when the convertible seat assembly is in the second position and the third position.
 29. The convertible seat assembly of claim 26, wherein the first end of the first seat frame is pivotally mounted to the boat by a pivot axle, and the link arm includes a notch configured to be supported by the pivot axle when the convertible seat assembly is in each of the second position and the third position.
 30. The convertible seat assembly of claim 25, wherein the first end of the first seat frame and the eighth end of the third seat frame are both coupled to a housing of the boat.
 31. The convertible seat assembly of claim 25, wherein the first seat frame includes a first cushion disposed on a first side and a second cushion disposed on a second side thereof, the second seat frame includes a third cushion disposed on a first side thereof, and the third seat frame includes a fourth seat cushion disposed on a first side.
 32. The convertible seat assembly of claim 31, wherein the fourth seat cushion can be pivoted with respect to the third seat frame to expose a work surface.
 33. The convertible seat assembly of claim 25, wherein the seventh end of the third seat frame is pivotally mounted to the fourth end of the second seat frame by a first hinge and the eighth end of the third seat frame is pivotally mounted to the boat by a second hinge.
 34. The convertible seat assembly of claim 25, wherein the first seat frame includes a side frame member extending from the first end to the second end and a handle extending between the side frame member and the leg.
 35. A convertible seat assembly for a boat, comprising: a first seat frame having a first end and a second end; a second seat frame having a first end and a second end; a third seat frame having a first end and a second end; and a means for moving the seat assembly between each of a first position, a second position, and a third position, wherein in the first position the first seat frame defines a first seating surface, the third seat frame defines a first backrest, and the second seat frame at least partially underlies the first seat frame, in the second position the first seat frame defines a leg support, the second seat frame defines a second seating surface, and the third seat frame defines a second backrest, and in the third position the first seat frame defines a third seating surface, the second seat frame defines a third backrest, and the third seat frame defines a work surface.
 36. The convertible seat assembly of claim 35, wherein the first end of the first seat frame and the second end of the third seat frame are pivotally mounted directly to a housing of the boat.
 37. The convertible seat assembly of claim 36, wherein the first end of the second seat frame is pivotally mounted to the first seat frame by a link arm and the second end of the second seat frame is pivotally mounted to the first end of the third seat frame. 